Public Forum: If board is right, Jones must be fired

Published: December 27, 2006 12:00 AM

Based on the latest articles (T-G Dec. 19-20), combined with the articles published in November with regard to Ashland City Schools Supt. Jim Jones' performance evaluation and his subsequent response to that evaluation, Jones should be terminated.

According to the board's evaluation and its latest letter of reprimand, board members clearly believe Jones is insubordinate, "... defiant, defensive and derogatory." However, unless he resigns, I'm quite confident Jones will be employed through the end of his contract, because if he is fired, he will become a very wealthy man through the resulting litigation. I'm glad the T-G's circulation isn't any greater than it is, because this "situation" has become an appalling, juvenile fiasco.

[Article continues below]

I don't necessarily agree with everything Jones has done, but I would expect anyone who received an evaluation like his to respond and defend him/herself. If the board members did not like or agree with the response, that's fine -- they have the right. But they do not have the right to "edit" his letter of response to suit their desires. What arrogance.

This entire mess was started with some incredibly inappropriate and unprofessional (at the least) e-mails among three of the board members at the beginning of 2006.

[Article continues below]

I don't believe Mr. Jones expected his response to the evaluation to be made public any more than the board expected the evaluation to be made public. The latest reprimand contains the comment, "As a private citizen, you might very well expect that you can say absolutely anything that you want; however, as an employee of the board, you don't have such a right." Based on this general statement as well as the specific statements made in the reprimand, Jones would be remiss if he didn't respond to it as well. If he doesn't respond, it implies he agrees with the statements or

doesn't care anymore. However, if he does respond and defends himself, he again will be guilty of insubordination. On and on we go. Is there something wrong with this picture? If the board believes what it states in the reprimand, Jones has continued to be insubordinate and board members are not performing their duty if they don't fire him. But again, that won't happen, because the board members created this fiasco and they know it.

Last but not least -- if this board is so fired up about improving communications, why did board member Rick Ewing not know about this latest letter of reprimand before he was called into executive session to vote on it?

It makes you wonder what other meetings have taken place without full board or public knowledge.

I guess the board members have not learned from their experience with the e-mails. Consider this my performance evaluation of the board -- it does NOT meet expectations.

Glenn Ericson

Ashland

Statistics not counting

all unemployed people

I would like to add a comment to the article in the paper on Nov. 22, 2006, regarding unemployment. The "experts" say the rates are down, but are they counting the number of unemployment compensation or the actual number of people out of work?

I have been unemployed since April of this year, my neighbor for about three years. Thus, we have no benefits available to us and I am sure I can speak for many others.

I am an LPN with more than 30 years experience. I have applied for part-time employment at every hospital and assisted living facilities and checked with most physician offices from southern Lorain, western Holmes, Huron, Medina, Wayne, Ashland and Richland counties. I have even tried out of my field. So, I am over-qualified.

They claim there is a shortage of nurses, but they only want RNs. LPN's are nurses too and any nurse with experience can do a lot of procedures within the scope of their license.

I note numerous news articles state unemployment sign-ups are down. Yes, they appear down, but there are many of us who have run out of benefits and can't get any more or sign up unless we work again 20 consecutive weeks. We can't work 20 weeks if we can't find a job.

When I contacted our elected officials about an extension, one had the courtesy to respond with one of their liaisons calling me and explaining there is a mathematical equation that has to be met for extensions to be permitted.

Therefore, I feel our government is not telling the full truth regarding the number of people unemployed.

Jackie Gifford

Nova

Historical Society's stand on Center St. home ironic

I can't imagine I am the only one who sees the irony of the Historical Society choosing to bulldoze a historic building in the Center Street historic district. I have yet to hear of plans for the space, other than green space immediately and, eventually, storage. Can't storage be found elsewhere?

If we can't look to the Historical Society to preserve what they have been entrusted, I'm not sure of the purpose of the organization.

I understand there are codes and regulations when building a structure for public use, but if the Noonan house is their idea of comparable architecture, we will most certainly have another eyesore on Center Street should they choose to demolish this house and rebuild.

The remaining houses on Center Street need to be preserved. The issue is about the streetscape, and to do anything but restore this house, at least on the outside, would be detrimental to the Center Street district and the city of Ashland.

Perhaps the Historical Society can look for space behind them or even off the grounds for storage. If they don't care to preserve this house, selling it to someone with more vision should be a viable option.

Or, maybe they should look for grant money to restore it as bulldozing it can't and shouldn't be the only course of action.